St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies) Bathurst will host its first ever community sleepout on Friday, which raises awareness for homelessness.
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The Vinnies Community Sleepout has traditionally been an occasion where people get together and sleepout in an effort to raise funds and awareness for those in the local community who need it the most.
But because of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, organisers have pushed ahead for a socially distant one, where people will sleep out by themselves either in their car, on their couch or outside on the ground.
Vinnies Evans regional president Marina Gray said almost $6000 has already been raised for the Bathurst sleepout.
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"Our target is $10,000 and $5000 has been raised already, which is fantastic," she said.
"All funds will go to the John Terry House, a new homeless and women's refuge in Kelso set to open in late October and operated by Housing Plus."
A live stream will take place during the sleepout, cutting to all the different locations that are hosting one, including Bathurst, Western Sydney, Tweed Heads, Maitland and Armidale.
"They'll zoom into different locations across the state and talk to people about the event," Ms Gray said.
"Because of COVID-19, we can't sleepout together.
"This is the first time Bathurst has done it, so we're encouraging people to donate if they can't participate."
NSW accounts for one third of all national homelessness.
"It's important to raise awareness because believe it or not, there's homelessness in Bathurst," Ms Gray said.
"A lot of people here don't have a home. Some of them couch surf, maybe stay at a cousin's or a friends, and when they can't, they might sleep at a park."
As of Tuesday morning, $5700 has been raised for the Bathurst sleepout.
To participate in the event, contact the coordinator Graham Clayton on bathurstwelfare@vinnies.org.au, or to donate to the sleepout visit the website.
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